Early mountain bike models came with narrow handlebars resembling the anatomy of their road-bike ancestors, which were optimized for aerodynamics. As mountain biking evolved, engineers realized that wider handlebars increased comfort, stability and steering leverage. Longer bikes require wider bars for effective steering, and most mountain bikers have a more upright stance than road bikers. Handlebar width governs your range of motion, arm and shoulder fatigue, pushing and pulling force, and ability to corner effectively.
While most riders find the bars of yesteryear to be too narrow, there are obviously limits. Bars that are too wide can cause shoulder injuries and decrease performance. Most mountain bike handlebars are somewhere between 750 and 800 mm, and small adjustments can make a big difference. Even among elite mountain bike racers, handlebar width varies. Fortunately, trimming length off bars is easy and inexpensive (if not free!) at most bike shops. Unfortunately, it can’t be undone, so proceed slowly. Below we’ll give some tips for choosing your width.
Terrain
If you prefer riding on narrow singletrack paths through dense forests, you may want to choose a narrower handlebar to avoid injuring your hands or crashing. However, if you only occasionally ride through tight spaces, you might be happier with a wider handlebar. In addition, enduro and downhill riders usually find wider handlebars to be more stable.
Body Physiology
In general, riders with wider shoulders will probably prefer wider handlebars. Inversely, riders with narrow shoulders will likely want narrower handlebars. Your elbows move inward and outward as you ride over varied terrain like bumps and troughs; however, they should be directly behind your wrists most of the time. One good piece of advice is to ask yourself if you could do a pushup in the position in which you grip your handlebars. If not, trim them--but only 5-10 mm at a time. Don’t take too much off at once—remember that small adjustments can make a huge difference!
Our Opinion and Recommendations
In our opinion even the smallest riders can ride with 750 mm handlebars. You are going to get way more leverage and maneuverability out of your handlebars. We recommend riders find a handlebar length in between 750 - 800 mm. Even our smaller coaches ride with handlebars between 770 - 800 mm. You can see Coach Dee in the photos below riding with 800 mm handlebars and she is the shortest coach on our team. The other photo shows Coach Dee and Coach Erica standing side by side. You can see the height difference between Erica (5’9”) and Dee and both coaches ride with 800 mm.
Ultimately, handlebar width is a matter of personal preference and comfort. If possible, test various widths at a bike shop be conservative as you chop down your handlebar length. Good luck, be safe, and have fun!
The Mountain Bike Mastery Course is where we take your mountain bike skills to the next level and way beyond. Join from anywhere in the world for the most in-depth, personalized coaching possible. Make some magic on your bike with Coach Erica Tingey supporting you every pedal stroke of the way.